When
Marine 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines
climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over
his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.
Marine Major Steve Beck described the scene as very powerful.

"See
the people in the windows? They sat right there in that plane, watching
those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds,
knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home," he
said. "They will always remember being on that plane for the
rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine
home. And they should."

The
night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused
to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last
time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below
the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and
played songs that reminded her of 'Cat.' One of the Marines asked
if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept.